Manx
The true origin of this unusual breed are steeped in claims, counter claims, legend, and folktale. The total lack of a tail is attributed to everything from Noah catching the latecomer catts tail in the door of the Ark, to mother cats deliberately biting off the nails of their kittens to prevent them from future pain a the hands of invading armies, who hung the tails they captured from heir shields like medals.
The Phornicians, noted seafaring merchants of the ancient world, are someties credited with spreading the breed from Fae Eat to the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. If this tale were true, then the Manx would have to be a mutation or adaptation of something akin to the Japanese Bobrail.
A more likely origin of the Manx was on galleons of the Spanish Armada. Some tailless cats (there were always rat0controk cars abroad the ships_ the results of muttaiom, made their way ashore when some of the Spanish ships sank near the Isle of Man in the late 1500s. There, isolated fom other breeds, their tailess qualiy was passed onto new generations. Later breeders built on this beggining to develop the breed by careful crossing with tailed cats.
Whatever their beginnings, the residents of the Isle of Man are quite proud of their distinctive cat, so much so that they have minted a coin in its likeness.
The Manx is an even-tempered, loving, intelligent breed. It is comfortable with anyone who comes into the home, the place where cat prefers to spend all of its time. Despite its indoor preferednce, the Manx is an extremely active breedm happiest when involved in some actvity, an able mouser with lighting quick reflexes. It needs play as part of its daily routine.
The breed is recognized in any shorthair coat colour or pattern; the eye colour should complement the coat. The mark of a true pedigree is a hollow where the base of the tail shold be that will accommodate the end of a thumb. These tailless cats are referred to as “RUMPY,’ while those with remnant tails are known as “Slumpy”.
The fur is short and dense. The body is socky and muscular withh powerful legs.; the forelegs are shorter than the hindled. The head is egg shaped and brod, with a short nose, large, round eyes, and a well-developed chin. The ears are medium in size and rounded at the tips.
Frequent, gentle brushing witha shoft bristle brush is recommended o maintan the silky qulity of the fur. The Manx is not at all finickyin its diet.
Breding is a problem with this cat. Mat8ing two tailless cats results in malformed kittens that die before birth or soon after. Therefore, tailless individuals should bbe bred with those with tails.
Common standard faults are a small head, long tail, and lack of undercoat.
The Manx is one of only two tailless breeds. The other is the Cymric, actually a long haired mutation of the Manx that first appeared in the 1960s in Canada.